Windshield cleaner



May 19, 1931. R. M. CRITCHFIIELD WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed July 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuenlfoz Robert )77. C'riZch/Z'eld Patented May 19, 193i 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBEBI GBITOHFIELD, F ANDERSON, INDIAiIA, ASSIGNOB TO DELCO-REMY COB- PORA'IION, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WINDSHIELD CLEANER Application filed July 87, 1929. Serial No. 381,516.

This invention relates to windshield cleanshown in section for clearness of illustration. ers and is particularly concerned with the Fig.2 is a rear elevational view of the same driving connection between the motor and as appears from the drivers seat. the wiper mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in fragmentary One of the objects of this invention is to section through the driving motor and trans provide a mechanism of the class described mission mechanism.

in which the motor will always have a posi- Ijig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the gear tively coupled driving relation with the wiptram substantially as indicated by the line ing mechanism, and will permit movement and arrows 4-4 of Fig. 3. of the wiper mechanism'independent of move- Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the ment of the motor, so that the wiping blades WIPE! mechanism substantially as indicated may be readily moved to a convenient parkby theline and arrows 55 of Fig. 3. ing position out of the operators line of Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the vision. driving motor substantially as indicated by A further object of the invention is to prothe line and arrows 6-6 of Fig. 3.

vide a windshield cleaning mechanism em- Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the gear .bodying a oneway clutch so that the wiping train and clutch mechanism, substantially as blades may be moved over the windshield indicated by the line and arrows 77 of glass independent of any movement of the Fig.4. I v motor. ig. 8 is a similar section as indicated by A further object is to provide a yielding the line and arrows 8-8 of Fig. 4. connection between the driving motor and With particular'reference to the drawings, the, wiping mechanism whereby the trans- 20 indicates a rail or part of the vehicle strucmission mechanism will positively translate ture supporting a bracket 21 to which is fixed movement of the motor to the wiper mechaa hinge 22-pivotally supporting a windshield nism, but will be non-operative to translate frame 23 carrying a glass 24. To the windmovement of the wiper mechanism to the shield frame 23, is secured a channel member driving motor. 1 25, by attaching screws 26 and 27 and vibra- A further object of this invention is to tion absorbing washers 28, which provides an provide means for moving the wiper blades attaching bracket for a driving motor and from a position that they may come to rest mechanism soon to be described. In the presat when the driving motor is' stopped, to a cut instance the attaching bracket 25 is somepredetermined position out of the usual field what elon ated so as to extend throughout of vision through the windshield glass. substantiafly the greater portion of the wind- A further object is to provide motor opshield frame and pivotally supports at each erated means for driving the wiper mechend thereof a wiping arm assembly 30and 31.

anism, and additional means interconnected It is obvious of course, that the wiper mechwith said motor operated means for operaanism may embrace but a single one of the astion of said wiper mechanism independent of semblies and that the wiper assembly and said motor operated means. 7 driving unit may be more closely associated Further objects and advantages of the in point of space, and yet the spirit of the present invention will be apparent from the invention preserved.

following description, reference being had Each of these assemblies are essentially the to the accompanying drawings wherein a same and comprise the'structure illustrated es preferred embodiment of one form of the in Fig. 5, in which the bracket 25 supports a present invention is clearly shown. sleeve bearing 32, in which 1s ournalled a In the drawings: 0 wiper shaft 33 carrying a sprocket 34 and Fig. 1 is aplan View of my improved'windprovided with a wiping arm 35. The arm shield cleaner mechanism as applied to'the 35 has a wiper blade 36 pivotally supported rail of the windshield, certain parts being thereby and resiliently maintained agalnst the glass 24 by spring and. clip devices 38 and 37 respectively. In lateral spaced relation with respect to bearings 32 the bracket member 25 provides a guide-roller 40 rotatably supported by a stud 41 and is adapted to.

maintain a rack bar 42 in'driving engagement with the sprocket 34 of the wiper shaft 33.

The windshield rail 23 is provided with an aperture 43 for.freely receiving the wiper shaft 33, so that the driving motor and transmission mechanism may be mounted inside of the windshield frame out of exposure to the weather, and yet permit the wiper blade assembly to'be mounted on the exterior of the frame whereby the general appearance of the apparatus will be improved.

The rack bar or bars 42 are coupled to a crank pin 50, supported by a crank 51 drivingly secured to a crank shaft 52 journalled in the gear housing 53. The gear housing 53 forms an integral part of the motor housing and frame 54, which is mounted as a unit upon h the bracket so that the crank shaft 52 is substantially midway between the wiper shaft 33, and so that the crank pin and link 51"are disposed within the channel member whereby the rack bars 42 may be connected tweenthe wiper shafts 33 in order to pro erly adjust the extremes of the wiper stro e relative to the movement of the crank shaft 52. This shifting feature is furthered by providing an enlarged a erture 57 in the bracket 25 about the protu rance of the gear housing 53 so as to permit slight movements therebetween at least to the extent permitted by screws and slots .56.

I In main the driving motor comprises *a pair of pole pieces 60 and- 61 disposed within ,the walls of the motor housing 54, securing therebetween a field winding 62, and core 63, by means of a bolt or screw 64 recessed within the walls of the housing 54. The members 60 and 61 are formed with are like extensions 65 and 66, designed to encircle a rotor 67 I mounted upon a motor shaft 68. A commutator 69 upon the armature shaft '68, cooperates with appropriate brush assemblies 70 pivotally secured to a motor housing cover 71. The brush assemblies are secured by stud 72 and .,are electrically connected with the field winding 62, and a proper source of energy. The cover 71 is secured upon the motor housing 54 in any well known manner as by screws, and

the armature shaft 68 has a thrust bearing 73 within the cover, 71, and other bearings 74 and i 75 in the gear housing 53. The motor shaft 68 provides a worm 76 that meshes with the worm wheel 77 journalled upon the reduced conical like depressions. The worm wheel 77 includes a cylindrical hub 81 which forms a journal upon the extension 78 of the crank shaft, and the web of the wheel 77 is provided with a circular row of holes 82, which are equal] spaced both circumferentially'v and radial y so as to be coincident with the deressions 80 provided b the driving plate. gVithin each of these oles .of the worm wheel is disposed a steel ball 83. The halls fill the holes 82, of said worm wheel and proj ect a slight distance each side of the web so as to be received within the apertures 80 and yet protrude to some extent throu h the opposite sideoffsaid worm wheel. pring retaining means are provided for maintaining the balls 83 within the holes 82 of the worm wheeland to urge the said balls into the de-. pressions 80 of the driving plate.

The spring retainin means comprises a retainer plate 84 wit reentrant annular grooves 85 and 86, which provide res ectively a race for the balls 83 and a kee ing ange for a spring 87. The s ring 87 is o conical form,

the base of which is seated within the groove 86, while the apex thereof is enga ed by a keeping washer 88,:secured upon t e extension 78'eby double nuts 89 and 90. The washer 88 is provided with the lugs 91 whichare just receivable within the small en'd turn of the spring 87, and aidv to kee [the spring in properposition upon the s aft 78. A second s r1ng'92 is placed upon the extension 78 an 88 and the enga ement with the driving plate 79, and so displosed between the keeping washer ub 81 of the worm w eel in order to keep the worm wheel in resilient but firm that t e teeth of the worm wheel will be maintained in cooperative relation with the worm 76 of the motor shaft 68. With respect to both the springs 87 and 92 the washer 88 and double nut structure provide afirm abutment from which the springs transmit their energizing force.

The shaft 78 is further reduced, or it may i be extended, without reduction, and the projection thereof 95 is provided with a thumb wheel 96 drivingly secured to it in any preferred manner. The gear housing 53 is pro -ment of the motor shaft 76. Further, by

reason ofthis, the wiper mechanism may be operated by the thumb wheel 96, independ ent of any movement of the motor or motor shaft. These features are made possible by use of the particular clutch that has been disclosed herein. When motion is transmitted to the worm wheel 77 by the motor shaft, the force thereof is applied axially of the balls 83 or substantially squarely against the face or surface of the balls, and they being urged into engagement with the recesses 80 of the plate 79. by means of the retainer mechanism including the stiff spring 87, the plate 79 will be turned with the worm wheel which will result in driving of the crank shaft 52.

Upon assemblying of the parts, should it be discovered that these facts do not satisfactorily obtain, the nuts 89 and 90 are run further upon the portion 78 of the crank shaft in order to place the spring 87 under great'er tension, and when the proper tension has been determined the nut 90 is turned relatively to the nut 89 suflicient to maintain the established tension by locking the predetermined tension adjust-ment. How- .ever, should it be desired to operate -the wiper mechanism manually in order to give a few wiping strokes to the windshield. or in order to move the wiping arms from that position to which they come to rest when the motor is stopped, to a parked position when the wiping arm assemblies 30 and 31 are at one extreme or the other of the area of vision of the windshield, then the thumb wheel 96 is rotated, which turns with it the driving plate 79. This movement of the hand wheel 96 and of the driving plate 79,

a will not operate to drive the worm wheel 77 since the inclined surfaces of engagement between the depression 80 and the slight extension of the balls 83 will only tend to cant the balls 83 away from the plate 79 toward the retainer plate 84 which is allowed to move away from the worm wheel .77 by reason of the spring 87. Aside from the operation of the rack bars 42, and the wiper arm assemblies 31 movement of the crank shaft 52 is resisted ofily by the frictional engagement that may exist between the plate 79 and worm wheel 77 due to the tension of the spring 92.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, conmotor, wiper mechanism adapted for engagement with the windshield also supported by said means and driven by said motor, and a clutch connecting said motor to said wiper mechanism comprising, a crank shaft provided with a recessed driving plate, a worm wheel driven by said motor and providin a circular row of holes coincident with sai plate recesses, balls disposed in said holes and a spring retainer acting to maintain said plate, Wheel and balls in coupled engagement only when said wheel is driven by said motor, whereby said wiper mechanism will be actuated when said motor is energized and may be actuated without energization of said m0- tor.

2. In a windshield cleaner the combination comprising, a motor, means supporting said motor, wiper mechanism adapted for engagement with the windshield also supported by said means and driven by said motor, and a clutch connecting said motor to said wiper mechanism comprising, a driving plate secured to a crankshaft and provided with a a circular row of holes, a worm wheel driven by said motor and providing a circular row of holes coincident with said plate holes, balls carried in said holes and a spring retainer acting to maintain said plate, wheel and balls in coupled engagement only when said wheel isdriven' by said motor, whereby the worm'wheel is yieldingly connected with the crank shaft and movement of the wiper mechanism can-be made without moving said motor.

3. In a windshield cleaner the combination comprising, a motor, a bracket supporting with the crank shaft and movement of the wiper mechanism can be made without moving said motor.

4. In a windshield cleaner the combination comprising, a motor, a bracket supporting said motor on a windshield frame, wiper mechanism supported by said bracket and operatively connected to said motor, said connection comprising, a motor and a crank shaft driven thereby, and a clutch interposed between said shafts comprising a recessed plate secured to said crank shaft, a worm 5 wheel rotatable upon said crank shaft and providing openings in the web thereof coincident with the recesses of said plate, balls carried by said worm wheel and a retainer urging said balls into said plate recesses 1 whereby the'worm wheel is yieldingly connected with the crank shaft and movement of the wiper mechanism can be made without moving said motor;

- 5. In a windshield cleaner-the combination 15 comprising, a motor, means supporting said motor, wiper mechanism adapted for engage-' mentwith the windshield also supported by said means and drive'n by said motor, and a clutch connecting said motor to said wiper 20 mechanism comprising, a crank shaft provided with a driving late, a worm wheel joura nailed on said sha t and drivinglyconnected to said motor, said wheel providing a circular row of holes and. a steel ball in each hole, 5 said plate presenting a similar row of recesses coincident to said holes, and a spring retainer device maintaining said balls in said holes and urging said balls into said plate recesses, whereby said wiper mechanism will be actuated when said motor is energized and maybe actuated without energization of said motor.=

Y In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

- ,35 ROBERT M. ORITOHFIELD- 

